LightSpeed Oddity

midlifeflyer

midlifeflyer

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Who you kiddin?
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A few years ago I was giving a lesson in an Arrow. I could hear through my Lighspeed Zulus for about 3 seconds after I pulgged it in and then nothing. Wiggling the headphone plug would get me another 3 seconds, but that about it. All the usual suspects, including dip switches were checked. Switched headsets and it worked just fine.

I contacted Lightspeed. Their explanation? Bose plugs have a marginally wider diameter. If the airplane was used regularly with Bose, the female gets stretched out and "normal" plugs don't make clean contact. (Yes, as much as that sounds like a lead in to erotica, that's what they said.) Apparently, they said, it also affects David Clark headsets. They sent me some spacers to put over the plug. That didn't work. Lightspeed suggested a $200 solution they wouldn't guarantee. That's not happening when I have another headset that works. I bought an headset extension cable as a possible solution but hadn't had a chance to test it out in the Arrow. The Lighstpeeds have worked just fine (solo) since then in the other 18 or so makes/model airplane I've used them in.

Yesterday, the same thing happened. This time in a Mooney. The spacers didn't work. My DIY solution didn't work either. Switched headsets (no, it's not a Bose) and it worked just fine.

Has anyone else come across anything like this?
 
I've not experienced it with the Lightspeed Sierra or Zulu 2 headsets but I don't have many hours on them as I prefer the Clarity Alofts. A search finds this though:

J

Thread 'Zulu 3 issues'

I just got a brand new Zulu 3 headset (traded in my Dave Clark’s for $250 discount). I was so excited to try out I headset with noise cancellation, Bluetooth, and the ATC recording/playback features.

Unfortunately, when I plugged my headset into the panel, I could hear ATC and myself for about five seconds, and then nothing. I tried wiggling the connector, pulling them out and putting them back in, and each time it would seem to revive for a few seconds and then die. I tried the input on the right seat, and had the same result.

So I had to resort to a crappy old pair that luckily...

Headset Info – Meow Meow LLC

meowmeow.info meowmeow.info
 
Hmm.. That's interesting. The audio out plug is 1/4" TS. I wasn't aware that Bose used a nonstandard plug, and I am a bit skeptical. You could try plugging it into the backseat passenger plug. If that works, then they might have a point.
 
I use a mix of Bose, Lightspeed (DZ) and Clarity Aloft. No issues like the one described.
 
FORANE said:
I've not experienced it with the Lightspeed Sierra or Zulu 2 headsets but I don't have many hours on them as I prefer the Clarity Alofts. A search finds this though:

J

Thread 'Zulu 3 issues'

I just got a brand new Zulu 3 headset (traded in my Dave Clark’s for $250 discount). I was so excited to try out I headset with noise cancellation, Bluetooth, and the ATC recording/playback features.

Unfortunately, when I plugged my headset into the panel, I could hear ATC and myself for about five seconds, and then nothing. I tried wiggling the connector, pulling them out and putting them back in, and each time it would seem to revive for a few seconds and then die. I tried the input on the right seat, and had the same result.

So I had to resort to a crappy old pair that luckily...

Headset Info – Meow Meow LLC

meowmeow.info meowmeow.info
Click to expand...
You'll see my comments at the end of my thread. I'd forgotten about it. This is sort of a follow-up. I'm going to try the stereo dip switch again next week and see what happens.
 
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Hang 4 said:
I use a mix of Bose, Lightspeed (DZ) and Clarity Aloft. No issues like the one described.
Click to expand...
I've been i several "Bose" cockpits with no problem. According to Lighspeed, it only seems to happen when Bose is used exclusively for a long time. Otherwise the effect is so minimal that it doesn't happen.
 
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I have that issue with my lightspeeds, for what it's worth. I have a DC OneX, Bose A30, and Lightspeed Delta Zulu (yes, I wanted to try all 3). The DC OneX and Bose A30 connect just fine, everytime. The Lightspeeds sometimes don't, and the mic will kick out and not get picked up. I've had my cables replaced for the length I needed for where our headphones jacks are, and it still is an issue. It's an old plane and I'm sure lots of different headsets have been used over the years. It wouldn't surprise me if you could wear in a spot with a particular plug that would make others difficult to connect perfectly, which should explain why my LS every so often can't get a good connection. It's a shame though, as they're my favorite of the 3 (despite popular polls, the LS then DC then Bose are my order of favorites. For me, the Bose has the worst noise cancelling and it's not even a close 3rd place for that).
 
Seems to me that if Lightspeed is the only headset brand that has this problem, the issue is Lightspeed, not Bose's "oversized plugs". That explanation sounds pretty made up on the spot to me.
 
At the flight school I work most the aircraft are logging 1000 hours a year and everyone is using what ever headsets, including Bose and Lightspeed and this isn’t an issue. If you examine a quality jack, you would readily see why sprung connector explanation is not likely, but maybe the issue is poor quality jacks.
 
My lightspeed sierras will not function in my PIC position jacks, but work fine on the copilot side.
The A30 now live at the PIC station....
 
A few times I've found one jack on my DZ's won't fully engage. Takes 3 or for insertions (giggity) for it to be firm. It's only the pilot side jack I've ever noticed it. No issues with anything dropping out once I know it's in firm.

Dad's a20's don't have that issue.
 
RussR said:
Seems to me that if Lightspeed is the only headset brand that has this problem, the issue is Lightspeed, not Bose's "oversized plugs". That explanation sounds pretty made up on the spot to me.
Click to expand...
The “oversized plugs” struck me as nonsense too.
 
At this point, you could probably replace the pilot side female jack connectors yourself vs the $200 whatever Lightspeed was going to charge for working on the headset.
 
WDD said:
At this point, you could probably replace the pilot side female jack connectors yourself vs the $200 whatever Lightspeed was going to charge for working on the headset.
Click to expand...
It’s the right seat plug and it’s not my airplane. I just use my other headset. Easy solution. And I’m not convinced it’s the plug anyway.

At this point, my main headset is my Axis in-ear which are quieter than the Zulu. But I still use the Zulu a lot when teaching because it’s just easier to pop on and off. So just a momentary frustration for the first time in more than 3 years I ran into this.
 
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The jack is rock simple. Look behind the panel or remove the jack and slightly bend the contacts. While you're at it buff the contacts with blue scrubby and do the Lightspeed plugs too.
 
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